 | The Prologues of the Demon and of John the Baptist |  |
Demon
Johannes baptis[ta]
I am ȝour lord lucifer þat out of helle cam
Prince of þis werd and gret duke of helle
Wherefore my name is clepyd sere satan
Whech Aperyth among ȝow A matere to spelle.
Prince of þis werd and gret duke of helle
Wherefore my name is clepyd sere satan
Whech Aperyth among ȝow A matere to spelle.
I am Norsshere of synne to þe confusyon of man
To bryng hym to my dongeon þer in fyre to dwelle
Ho so evyr serve me so reward hym I kan
þat he xal syng wellaway ever in peynes ffelle.
To bryng hym to my dongeon þer in fyre to dwelle
Ho so evyr serve me so reward hym I kan
þat he xal syng wellaway ever in peynes ffelle.
Lo þus bountevous A lord þan now am I
To reward so synners as my kend is
Who so wole folwe my lore and serve me dayly
Of sorwe and peyne A-now he xal nevyr mys.
To reward so synners as my kend is
Who so wole folwe my lore and serve me dayly
Of sorwe and peyne A-now he xal nevyr mys.
Ffor I began in hefne synne for to sowe
Among all þe Angellys þat weryn þere so bryth
And þer fore was I cast out in to helle ful lowe
Not withstandyng I was þe fayrest and berere of lyth.
Among all þe Angellys þat weryn þere so bryth
And þer fore was I cast out in to helle ful lowe
Not withstandyng I was þe fayrest and berere of lyth.
Ȝet I drowe in my tayle of þo Angelys bryth
With me in to helle takyth good hed what I say
I lefte but tweyn A-ȝens on to Abyde þere in lyth
But þe iijd e part come with me þis may not be seyd nay.
With me in to helle takyth good hed what I say
I lefte but tweyn A-ȝens on to Abyde þere in lyth
But þe iijd e part come with me þis may not be seyd nay.
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Takyth hed to ȝour prince þan my pepyl euery-chon
and seyth what maystryes in hefne I gan þer do play
To gete A thowsand sowlys in an houre me thynkyth it but skorn
Syth I wan Adam And Eve on þe fyrst day.
and seyth what maystryes in hefne I gan þer do play
To gete A thowsand sowlys in an houre me thynkyth it but skorn
Syth I wan Adam And Eve on þe fyrst day.
But now mervelous mendys rennyn in myn rememberawns
Of on cryst wiche is clepyd Joseph and maryes sone
Thryes I tempte hym be ryth sotylle instawnce
Aftyr he fast fourty days ageyns sensual myth or reson
Ffor of þe stonys to a mad bred but sone I had conclusyon
Þan upon a pynnacle but Angelys were to hym Assystent
His Answerys were mervelous I knew not his intencion
and at þe last to veyn glory but nevyr I had myn intent.
Of on cryst wiche is clepyd Joseph and maryes sone
Thryes I tempte hym be ryth sotylle instawnce
Aftyr he fast fourty days ageyns sensual myth or reson
Ffor of þe stonys to a mad bred but sone I had conclusyon
Þan upon a pynnacle but Angelys were to hym Assystent
His Answerys were mervelous I knew not his intencion
and at þe last to veyn glory but nevyr I had myn intent.
And now hath he xij dysypulys to his Attendauns
To eche town and cety he sendyth hem as bedellys
in dyverce place to make ffor hym puruyauns
The pepyl of hese werkys ful grettly merveyllys
To þe crokyd blynd and dowm his werkys provaylys
Lazare þat foure days lay ded his lyff recuryd
and where I purpose me to tempt A-non he me Asaylys
Mawdelyn playne remyssyon Also he hath ensuryd.
To eche town and cety he sendyth hem as bedellys
in dyverce place to make ffor hym puruyauns
The pepyl of hese werkys ful grettly merveyllys
To þe crokyd blynd and dowm his werkys provaylys
Lazare þat foure days lay ded his lyff recuryd
and where I purpose me to tempt A-non he me Asaylys
Mawdelyn playne remyssyon Also he hath ensuryd.
Goddys son he pretendyth
and to be born of A mayde
and seyth he xal dey for mannys saluacion
þan xal þe trewth be tryed and no fordere be delayd
Whan þe soule fro þe body xal make separacion
And as for hem þat be vndre my grett domynacion
He xal fayle of hese intent and purpose Also
Be þis tyxt of holde remembryd to myn intencion
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.
and seyth he xal dey for mannys saluacion
þan xal þe trewth be tryed and no fordere be delayd
Whan þe soule fro þe body xal make separacion
And as for hem þat be vndre my grett domynacion
He xal fayle of hese intent and purpose Also
Be þis tyxt of holde remembryd to myn intencion
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.
But whan þe tyme xal neyth of his persecucion
I xal Arere new Engynes of malycious conspiracy
Plente of reprevys I xal provide to his confusyon
þus xal I false þe wordys þat his pepyl doth testefy
His discipulis xal for-sake hym and here mayster denye
In-novmberabyl xal his woundys be of woful grevauns
A tretowre xal countyrfe his deth to fortyfye
Þe rebukys þat he gyf me xal turne to his displesauns.
I xal Arere new Engynes of malycious conspiracy
Plente of reprevys I xal provide to his confusyon
þus xal I false þe wordys þat his pepyl doth testefy
His discipulis xal for-sake hym and here mayster denye
In-novmberabyl xal his woundys be of woful grevauns
A tretowre xal countyrfe his deth to fortyfye
Þe rebukys þat he gyf me xal turne to his displesauns.
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Some of hese dyscypulys xal be chef of þis Ordenawns
Þat xal fortefye þis term þat in trost is treson
Þus xal I venge be sotylte al my malycious grevauns
For no thyng may excede my prudens and dyscrecion.
Þat xal fortefye þis term þat in trost is treson
Þus xal I venge be sotylte al my malycious grevauns
For no thyng may excede my prudens and dyscrecion.
Gyff me ȝour love grawnt me myn Affeccion
And I wyl vnclose þe tresour of lovys Alyawns
And gyff ȝow ȝoure desyrys afftere ȝoure intencion
no poverte xal aproche ȝow fro plentevous Abundauns.
And I wyl vnclose þe tresour of lovys Alyawns
And gyff ȝow ȝoure desyrys afftere ȝoure intencion
no poverte xal aproche ȝow fro plentevous Abundauns.
By-holde þe dyvercyte of my dysgysyd varyauns
Eche thyng sett of dewe naterall, dysposycion
and eche parte Acordynge to his resemblauns
Ffro þe sool of þe ffoot, to þe hyest Asencion.
Eche thyng sett of dewe naterall, dysposycion
and eche parte Acordynge to his resemblauns
Ffro þe sool of þe ffoot, to þe hyest Asencion.
Off ffyne cordewan, A goodly peyre of long pekyd schon
hosyn enclosyd of þe most costyous cloth of Crenseyn
þus a bey to a jentylman to make comparycion
With two doseyn poyntys of cheverelle þe Aglottys of syluer feyn.
hosyn enclosyd of þe most costyous cloth of Crenseyn
þus a bey to a jentylman to make comparycion
With two doseyn poyntys of cheverelle þe Aglottys of syluer feyn.
A shert of feyn holond but care not for þe payment
A stomachere of clere reynes þe best may be bowth
Þow poverte be chef lete pride þer be present
And all þo þat repreff pride, þou sette hem at nowth.
A stomachere of clere reynes þe best may be bowth
Þow poverte be chef lete pride þer be present
And all þo þat repreff pride, þou sette hem at nowth.
Cadace wolle or flokkys where it may be sowth
to stuffe with-al þi dobbelet, and make þe of proporcyon
two smale legges And a gret body þow it ryme nowth
ȝet loke þat þou desyre to An þe newe faccion.
to stuffe with-al þi dobbelet, and make þe of proporcyon
two smale legges And a gret body þow it ryme nowth
ȝet loke þat þou desyre to An þe newe faccion.
A gowne of thre ȝerdys loke þou make comparison
Vn-to all degrees dayly þat passe þin astat
A purse with-outyn mony a daggere for devoscyon
And þere repref is of synne loke þu make debat.
Vn-to all degrees dayly þat passe þin astat
A purse with-outyn mony a daggere for devoscyon
And þere repref is of synne loke þu make debat.
With syde lokkys I schrewe þin here to þi colere hangyng down
to herborwe qweke bestys þat tekele men onyth
An hey smal bonet for curyng of þe crowne
And all beggerys and pore pepyll haue hem on dyspyte
On to þe grete Othys And lycherye gyf þi delyte
to maynteyn þin astate lete brybory be present
And yf þe lawe repreve þe say þou wylt ffyth
And gadere þe A felachep after þin entent.
to herborwe qweke bestys þat tekele men onyth
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And all beggerys and pore pepyll haue hem on dyspyte
On to þe grete Othys And lycherye gyf þi delyte
to maynteyn þin astate lete brybory be present
And yf þe lawe repreve þe say þou wylt ffyth
And gadere þe A felachep after þin entent.
Loke þou sett not be precept nor be comawndement
Both sevyle and Canone sett þou at nowth
Lette no membre of god but with othys be rent
Lo þus þis werd at þis tyme to myn intent is browth
I Sathan with my felawus þis werd hath Sowth
And now we han it at houre plesawns
Ffor synne is not shamfast but boldnes hath bowth
Þat xal cause hem in helle to han inerytawns.
Both sevyle and Canone sett þou at nowth
Lette no membre of god but with othys be rent
Lo þus þis werd at þis tyme to myn intent is browth
I Sathan with my felawus þis werd hath Sowth
And now we han it at houre plesawns
Ffor synne is not shamfast but boldnes hath bowth
Þat xal cause hem in helle to han inerytawns.
A beggerys dowtere to make gret purvyauns
To cownterfete a jentyl woman dysgeysyd as she can
And yf mony lakke þis is þe newe chevesauns
With here prevy plesawns to gett it of sum man
Here colere splayed and furryd with Ermyn calabere or satan
A seyn to selle lechory to hem þat wyl bey
And þei þat wyl not by it, yet i-now xal þei han
And telle hem it is for love she may it not deney.
To cownterfete a jentyl woman dysgeysyd as she can
And yf mony lakke þis is þe newe chevesauns
With here prevy plesawns to gett it of sum man
Here colere splayed and furryd with Ermyn calabere or satan
A seyn to selle lechory to hem þat wyl bey
And þei þat wyl not by it, yet i-now xal þei han
And telle hem it is for love she may it not deney.
I haue browth ȝow newe namys, and wyl ȝe se why
Ffor synne is so plesaunt, to ech Mannys intent
ȝe xal kalle pride oneste and naterall kend lechory
And covetyse wysdam there tresure is present.
Ffor synne is so plesaunt, to ech Mannys intent
ȝe xal kalle pride oneste and naterall kend lechory
And covetyse wysdam there tresure is present.
Wreth manhod, and envye callyd chastement
Seyse nere sessyon lete perjery be chef
Glotonye rest let Abstynawnce beyn Absent
And he þat wole exorte þe to vertu put hem to repreff.
Seyse nere sessyon lete perjery be chef
Glotonye rest let Abstynawnce beyn Absent
And he þat wole exorte þe to vertu put hem to repreff.
To rehers al my servauntys my matere is to breff
But all þese xal eneryth þe dyvicion eternal
Þow cryst by his sotylte many materys meef
In evyr-lastynge peyne with me dwellyn þei xal.
But all þese xal eneryth þe dyvicion eternal
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In evyr-lastynge peyne with me dwellyn þei xal.
Remembre oure seruauntys whoys sowlys ben mortall
Ffor I must remeffe for more materys to provyde
I am with ȝow at all tymes whan ȝe to councel me call
But for A short tyme my-self I devoyde.
Ffor I must remeffe for more materys to provyde
I am with ȝow at all tymes whan ȝe to councel me call
But for A short tyme my-self I devoyde.
Johannes baptis[ta]
I johan baptyst to ȝow þus prophesye
Þat on xal come aftyr me and not tary longe
In many folde more strengere þan I
Of whose shon I am not worthy to lose þe thonge
Where-fore I councel þe ȝe reforme all wronge
in ȝour concyens of þe mortall dedys sevyn
And for to do penawns loke þat ȝe ffonge
Ffor now xal come þe kyngdham of hevyn.
Þat on xal come aftyr me and not tary longe
In many folde more strengere þan I
Of whose shon I am not worthy to lose þe thonge
Where-fore I councel þe ȝe reforme all wronge
in ȝour concyens of þe mortall dedys sevyn
And for to do penawns loke þat ȝe ffonge
Ffor now xal come þe kyngdham of hevyn.
þe weys of oure lord cast ȝow to Aray
And þer-in to walk loke ȝe be Applyande
And make his pathys as ryth as ȝe may
Kepyng ryth forth and be not declinande
Neyther to fele on ryth nor on lefte hande
But in þe myddys purpose ȝow to holde
For þat in all wyse is most plesande
As ȝe xal here whan I have tolde.
And þer-in to walk loke ȝe be Applyande
And make his pathys as ryth as ȝe may
Kepyng ryth forth and be not declinande
Neyther to fele on ryth nor on lefte hande
But in þe myddys purpose ȝow to holde
For þat in all wyse is most plesande
As ȝe xal here whan I have tolde.
Of þis wey for to make moralysacyon
Be þe ryth syde ȝe xal vndyrstonde mercy
And on þe lefte syde lykkenyd dysperacion
And þe patthe be-twyn bothyn þat may not wry
Schal be hope and drede to walke in perfectly
Declynyng not to fele for no maner nede
grete cawsys I xal shove ȝow why
þat ȝe xal sowe þe patthe of hope and drede.
Be þe ryth syde ȝe xal vndyrstonde mercy
And on þe lefte syde lykkenyd dysperacion
And þe patthe be-twyn bothyn þat may not wry
Schal be hope and drede to walke in perfectly
Declynyng not to fele for no maner nede
grete cawsys I xal shove ȝow why
þat ȝe xal sowe þe patthe of hope and drede.
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On þe mercy of god, to meche ȝe xal not holde
as in þis wyse be-hold what I mene
Ffor to do synne be þou no more bolde
In trost þat god wole mercyful bene
And yf be sensualyte as it is ofte sene
Synnyst dedly þou xalt not þerfore dyspeyre
but þerfore do penawns and confesse þe clene
And of hevyn þou mayst trost to ben eyre.
as in þis wyse be-hold what I mene
Ffor to do synne be þou no more bolde
In trost þat god wole mercyful bene
And yf be sensualyte as it is ofte sene
Synnyst dedly þou xalt not þerfore dyspeyre
but þerfore do penawns and confesse þe clene
And of hevyn þou mayst trost to ben eyre.
Þe pathe þat lyth to þis blyssyd enherytawns
Is hope and drede copelyd be conjunccyon
Be-twyx þese tweyn may be no dysseuerawns
Ffor hope with-outyn drede is maner of presumpcion
And drede with-owtyn hope is maner of dysperacion
So these tweyn must be knyt be on Acorde
How ȝe xal aray þe wey I haue made declararacion
Also þe ryth patthis Aȝens þe comyng of oure lord.
Is hope and drede copelyd be conjunccyon
Be-twyx þese tweyn may be no dysseuerawns
Ffor hope with-outyn drede is maner of presumpcion
And drede with-owtyn hope is maner of dysperacion
So these tweyn must be knyt be on Acorde
How ȝe xal aray þe wey I haue made declararacion
Also þe ryth patthis Aȝens þe comyng of oure lord.
| The Prologues of the Demon and of John the Baptist | |